Jan 27, 2017

Prohibition was finally repealed during December 1933. During that
same year, the first beer can patent was issued. After much
testing and changing designs, the American Can Company finally was
ready to sell its cans. On January 24, 1935 the Krueger Brewing
and Ale company began selling beer in cans for the first time. By the end of the year, 36 other brewers were also
selling beer in cans.

A 'churchkey' type can opener was patented by
another company that same year. One end was used for opening
bottles and the other for puncturing the top of beer cans. They
were usually given away for free. Young people will never be
able to appreciate the versatility of this handy device.

Incidentally, Churchkey Can Company is a brewery founded
in 2012 by actor Adrian Grenier and former Nike designer Justin
Hawkins in Seattle, USA. The brewery's name refers to its
flagship beer, which must be opened using a can piercer, or 'church
key'.